Living in Chicago

Chicago has a walkable downtown and many walkable neighborhoods, connected by great city transportation the from the 'L' and Metra Rail systems. Stroll through Millennium Park, shop the Magnificent Mile, or set sail on the Great Lakes at the Navy Pier.

The downtown skyline reveals famous skyscrapers, beaches and the Chicago Bears Stadium. The North Side is home of Pizzeria Uno, the originator of Chicago's famous deep-dish pizzas. Workers flock to jobs at companies like Boeing, Kraft Foods, and McDonalds.

Chicago has Good Transit

Public Transit Routes

Chicago has good public transportation and about 169 bus, 11 rail and 8 subway lines.

Transit Time

The map above shows how far you can travel in 30 minutes from Chicago on public transit.

Chicago has about 636 car shares from Hertz On Demand, RelayRides, Zipcar, I-GO and Getaround.

Neighborhood Guides

Thinking of renting an apartment or buying in Chicago? Ask our neighborhood guides a question.

Terri Buseman

A resident of the South Loop since 1985, Terri Buseman has sold a variety of downtown properties, from single family homes and townhomes, to lofts and condominiums since 2004. She and her husband have raised their family in the city, and therefore can relate to the challenges families face when making real estate changes.

Bike Score

Bike Lanes

Hills

Bike Commuters

Crime in Chicago

Each year in Chicago, 32 violent crimes and 60 property crimes occur per 1,000 people.

Use our crime maps to find an apartment for rent in a safe Chicago neighborhood.

Pick a neighborhood to see crime maps or type an address to see the Crime Grade for that location.

What's It Like to Live in Chicago?

Kempf Plaza

3260-70 N Lake Shore Dr

Wentworth & Cermak

Along the Street

Overview

Chicago is a city of architecture – Frank Lloyd Wright was from nearby Oak Park – and downtown has so many remarkable high-rises that tourists come here for the buildings alone. The city’s historic dedication to building amazing structures means that there are lots of exceptional places to live, from condos in historic buildings to single family homes reflecting Wright’s modern style to spectacular shiny new skyscrapers.

The city ranks 6th for walkable large cities in the US and while biking is limited by weather and to those confident enough to ride in city traffic, extensive transit and lively street life make this a fine place to live for those that don’t want to rely on driving to get what they need.

Chicago the third largest city in the US after New York and Los Angeles, and is second only to New York for its financial district. The city is famous for its interpretation of deep dish pizza, so it’s not surprising that Lou Malnanti’s Pizza was voted one of the city’s best places to work in 2012 (Chicago Tribune). Other top ranked employers in the region include Fed Ex and consulting firms Ernst and Young, Accenture, and Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Networking giant LinkedIn has a Chicago office, as does online travel agent Orbitz . Hipster chic clothing and accessory company Threadless is here too.

Chicago Avenue Pumping Station

2429 LAKE MEADOWS

Getting Around

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) runs a subway system (the “El”) runs out to O’Hare International Airport, Oak Park, Evanston, Metra commuter rail runs even further, out to Kenosha, across the Wisconsin border to the north, and Jolie to the southwest. If you want to go further afield, Amtrak has a hub at Union Station running lines to New York, Washington DC, New Orleans, and all the way out to Seattle.

Divvy, Chicago’s bike share program, is one of the largest and most successful in North America. Even though the weather can be seasonally challenging, with snow in the winter and muggy days in the summer, Chicago’s mostly flat terrain makes it an easy city for biking.

ZipCar and Enterprise Car Share serve the city as well. Bike share, transit that goes from short term bus to long distance rail, and car share services mean that you can absolutely live in Chicago without a car.

The heart of the city – “The Loop” – is home to the world famous Chicago Art Institute. The reflective Cloud Gate sculpture (affectionately nicknamed The Bean) sits in Millennium Park, and there’s the glitzy shopping of the Magnificent Mile. Renters inside The Loop will find apartments ranging from studios to three and four bedroom luxury condos in high-rise buildings – a few have supermarkets at street level. You’ll always be walking distance from transit of all kinds; there are five major transit hubs downtown.

Famous Hotel Burnham - known for its Architecture.

Scott Johnsonon Hotel Burnham

Neighborhoods

A little north of downtown, there’s the Gold Coast, a historic district with swank shopping, top ranked restaurants, and castle like mansions. There are high-rise apartment buildings here, but there are also some gorgeous old brownstones – walk up flats with bay windows, hardwood floors, and fireplaces, some of them quite large with as many as five bedrooms, good for big families that want to live in the city. This is grand old Chicago, pricey, elegant, and perched on the shores of Lake Michigan.

A tiny little neighborhood just south of The Loop, Printer’s Row, also ranks very high for walking. The brick buildings here, mostly converted to lofts, used to be home to Chicago’s printers and publishers. Near North, between Gold Coast and The Loop, has some of everything – beautifully renovated brownstones, studios and one bedrooms in brick buildings with elegant courtyards and architectural detailing, and new construction with gourmet kitchens and in-house fitness centers.

Masjid Al-Faatir

Kenwood United Church of Christ

On The Street

Field Museum

But because Chicago has such extensive transit, walkable living isn’t just limited to city center neighborhoods. Frank Lloyd Wright’s home town of Oak Park, ten miles west of downtown Chicago, is an attractive historic suburb – and city in its own rights -- where you don’t need a car and can commute by rail into the city. Writer Earnest Hemingway was born in Oak Park, there’s a museum devoted to him, and there are 25 standing Frank Lloyd Wright homes here, including his home and studio.

Lake View East, also has direct transit service into downtown. It’s five miles north of downtown and was voted one a “Best Big City Neighborhood” in a Money Magazine reader poll. Boystown is in Lake View – it’s Chicago’s predominately gay neighborhood and home to the annual pride parade. Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, is in Lake View East, so traffic and game day parking can be a trial for residents and visitors alike, so it’s a good thing you don’t need a car to live in this part of the city.

Chicago has upwards of 200 neighborhoods, so whatever you’re looking for in character, you’re sure to find. Wicker Park is home to DIY hipster types and rapid renovation. River North is where you’ll find lots of furniture and interior design shops, perfect shopping once you find your new place. Andersonville has some of that “small town in a big city” feel. Beverly is ethnically diverse. Albany Park and West Ridge/West Roger's Park have top ranking public elementary schools.

Walk Score can help you find exactly the Chicago home you’re looking for, be it a studio or loft in a renovated brick building, a classic brownstone with two or three bedrooms and beautiful architectural details, or a luxury condominium in a new highrise building.

Super great place to enjoy a snack....tons of kids playing with each other and often free music when weather permits #LincolnSquare